For years, those of us in ministry have become accustomed to a certain kind of headline. We’ve read the studies and seen the trends: church attendance is down, formal membership is declining, and the number of Americans who identify as “religiously unaffiliated” is on the rise. For many believers, this narrative has felt heavy, like watching a slow tide go out, leaving behind a vastly changed shoreline. But every now and then, the cultural tide does something unexpected. And as I’ve been studying the most recent data on faith in our country, I believe we are witnessing a surprising and hopeful new chapter being written, particularly among our youngest generation. It leads me to ask a question that might have seemed unthinkable just a year ago: Is faith really rising in America again?
1. The Sudden Turn: A New Perception of Faith’s Influence
As a pastor, my primary focus is on the personal journey of faith—the quiet, transformative work God does in the hearts of individuals. Yet, it’s also wise to pay attention to the wider culture. How society views the influence of religion is a powerful indicator of where the spiritual conversation is headed. For over two decades, the consensus has been clear: religion’s influence is fading. But in the last year, that consensus has been dramatically interrupted.
To understand how significant this shift is, we must remember where we were. In February 2024, public perception of religion’s influence hit a historic low. A record 80% of Americans said that religion was losing its place in our national life, while only 18%—the lowest figure in over two decades—believed it was gaining. The tide, it seemed, was all the way out.
Then, something changed. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, public perception took a sudden and remarkable turn in just one year:
- By February 2025, the number of U.S. adults who believe religion is gaining influence jumped from 18% to 31%.
This 13-percentage-point increase is not a minor fluctuation; it marks the highest level of perceived religious influence we have seen in 15 years. After a long season of perceived decline that bottomed out at an all-time low, a significant portion of the American public is now looking at the national landscape and seeing the unmistakable presence of faith. This sudden shift suggests that something profound is stirring, and it appears an unexpected group is on the front lines of this new awareness.
2. A New Awakening: Unpacking the Trend in Generation Z
For many, Generation Z—the generation of young adults currently navigating college, careers, and the complexities of modern life—has been painted as the most secular in our nation’s history. That is precisely why the latest findings are so astonishing and hold such promise for the future of the Church. The data shows this generation isn’t just part of the trend; they are leading it.
The same Pew Research Center study reveals that among adults ages 18 to 29, the perception that religion is gaining influence surged from 19% in 2024 to an incredible 37% in 2025. This 18-point increase was the largest jump recorded for any age group, signaling that the youngest American adults are the most attuned to this spiritual shift.
This isn’t just an isolated finding. A separate forecast from Barna and the Cultural Research Center corroborates this trend with a paradoxical but powerful prediction. While traditional church structures may continue to face challenges, the report notes that “regular and intentional Bible exposure, largely driven by Gen Z, is expected to increase, reflecting new dynamics in religious engagement.”
Let’s pause and consider what this means. The very generation often written off as disengaged from faith is not only sensing a spiritual resurgence but is also predicted to be at the heart of a renewed curiosity and desire to engage with Scripture. The numbers tell a compelling story, but it’s the real-world encounters that truly bring it to life.
3. A Personal Story: A Glimpse of Revival on the Ground
I’ve always believed that data gives us a map, but it’s the personal stories that show us the terrain. As a pastor, seeing faith in action is what truly brings the numbers to life. Just a few months ago, an experience confirmed for me that this trend among young people is more than just a statistic.
One evening, I received a message from a young woman I didn’t know, a student at the local community college. She explained that she and a few friends had been talking and realized they all felt a similar emptiness—a sense that the world they were inheriting was loud, chaotic, and spiritually shallow. None of them had grown up in the church, and their only exposure to Christianity was through caricatures on social media. Yet, they had a deep, nagging curiosity about the Bible. They had heard it offered answers, and they were hungry for something real.
She asked if I would be willing to meet with them—not for a formal service, but just to help them start reading the Gospel of John together. They wanted to know who Jesus was, in His own words. The following week, I sat in a coffee shop with four students, Bibles open on the table, and I listened as they asked some of the most honest and insightful questions I have ever heard. There was no pretense, just a genuine desire for truth.
That simple, earnest gathering felt more like “revival” than many of the large, polished events I’ve attended. It was a firsthand glimpse of what the data suggests: a new spiritual stirring is happening, not always in our pews, but in the quiet corners of our communities, among a generation that is searching for an anchor.
4. Understanding the Shift: The Difference Between Attendance and Influence
At this point, you may be thinking, “Pastor, this is all very encouraging, but how does it square with the statistics we all know about declining church attendance?” This is a crucial question, and the answer lies in understanding the difference between personal practice and public presence.
Let’s be clear and honest: traditional metrics of religious involvement, as tracked by organizations like Gallup, have indeed been on a long-term decline. Weekly church attendance and formal church membership are lower than they were decades ago. Acknowledging this reality is essential for a credible conversation about the future.
Simply put, the “influence” Americans are noticing is not about a revival in the pews, but about the relevance of religion in the headlines. This perception of rising influence is less about a slow, organic spiritual renewal and more of a reactive response to external, high-impact events. Analysts point to the increased visibility of faith in our culture and politics, often driven by political volatility and major social and legal conflicts over issues like reproductive and LGBTQ rights. Religion is no longer a quiet, private matter; it has become a central and often contentious topic in the public square.
A key statistic from expert analysis of the Pew data illuminates this perfectly: in 2025, 58% of Americans now feel at least some conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream culture. This is a massive increase from just 42% in 2020. When faith and culture are perceived to be in conflict, the influence of religion is felt more acutely by everyone—believers and non-believers alike. This tension forces a conversation and makes the presence of faith impossible to ignore.
This new reality presents a strategic challenge for the modern Church. The challenge is that this “influence” is often seen as political power, which can alienate those who are spiritually curious but politically wary. The opportunity is that faith is no longer being ignored; it has a seat at the table of public conversation, and we must learn to speak with grace in that new context.
5. Our Call in This New Season: A Message of Hope and Responsibility
So what do we do with this information? It would be easy to see these trends as a victory in a “culture war,” but I believe that would be a profound mistake. This is not a moment for triumphalism; it is a moment of tremendous opportunity and responsibility for the Church. We are being presented with a culture that is once again highly aware of faith and a younger generation that is showing a renewed curiosity for the Word of God.
The question for us is no longer if people are thinking about faith, but how we will meet them in that conversation.
- The data shows a generation is searching; my experience in the coffee shop confirms it. How will your church, your Bible study, or you as an individual prepare to welcome the curious student who has never opened a Gospel before?
- How do we meet this renewed curiosity with grace and truth?
- How can we be a calming, steady presence in a culture where faith is once again a central and contentious topic?
- How do we model a faith that is defined by the love of Christ, not by political division?
Brothers and sisters, let us be encouraged. These are not random shifts; they are signs of a God who is still at work. Let us prepare our hearts to engage our communities—and especially this searching younger generation—with authenticity, compassion, and an unwavering confidence in the Gospel. This is a surprising new season, and it is a hopeful one. Let us be ready to meet it.
